Breast cancer patients can reduce the possible recurrence of cancer by concentrating their diets in plant-based sources, according to cancer specialists at The Cancer Project.

Plant-based diets are good for any male or female, regardless of cancer -- but they become quite a bit more important if breast cancer is something you've faced and have successfully battled.

In fact, a senior nutritionist with The Cancer Project even stated that "Women coping with breast cancer deserve to know that plant-based diets and regular exercise can spell the difference between life and death." If that's not a stark reminder of the importance of a plant-based diet for breast cancer patients, I am not sure what is.

Instead of complicated medicinal schemes and a highly-targeted playbook of cancer prevention through cutting-edge medicine, how about going about preventing cancer in a common-sense way?

Sounds highly simplistic, and for many, changes in diet and exercise levels may not be enough to ward off cancer in many forms. But, at a weekend meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the focus was on lifestyle changes as a preventative measure rather than on complex pharmaceuticals.

In two studies presented at the weekend meeting, diet and exercise were still found to matter and be highly relevant as well. A stark example was given in the case of individuals with stage III colon cancer who had undergone surgery and chemotherapy.

Those patients ended up having higher odds of cancer relapse or even dying if they returned to or began a predominantly "Western" diet that included red meat, fat, refined grains and too much sugar.

Many cancer patients and survivors I've talked to are know a bit about nutrition if they've successfully battled cancer (from lymph node cancer to skin cancer). I like these discussions, and I use them as fuel to speak about the benefits of a good diet to those who may be undergoing (or about to undergo) chemotherapy.

One of the more exotic diet choices for those just starting to study cancer diets is the "macrobiotic" diet. This diet includes items like organic whole grains, fruits and vegetables, soups made with vegetables, seaweed, grains, beans, and miso. Occasional servings of fresh whitefish, nuts, seeds and pickles. Some cancer specialists and naturopaths even suggest that this diet can exist with traditional cancer treatment or be a separate alternative treatment.

The foods above sound like a great diet for anyone alive if you ask me, but I can especially see the cancer patient benefiting from these dietary suggestions. What's your take on those foods? Are they in your diet at this time, and if so, why did you choose them?